The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-04-21

necessity OF giving evidence, 1. seemed
probable that Miss Beaufoy would not ven
ture to trouble us. These few days OF Sc
curity had been very happy ones, marred
only by the necessity Of attending to the
demands or the authorities for information
on various points connected with tho ar
rests. Shaw had meanwhile made arrange
ments for Mary's reception by his sister at
Richmond, and we had taken measures for
putting her interests under the care Of the
Court OF Chancery. The evening Of our de-
parture had arrived. We were to cross by
the night-boat to Harwich. ! was sitting
alone, thinking things over and making
plans for the future, in the large sitting
room which we had occupied, when a waiter
appeared and announced a lady.
| rose with feeling OF apprehension.
There stood against the clear twilight sky,
tail dark figure, ghost-like and silent. 1t
was she at last-the Basillsk. She advanced
towards the light of the fire, and could see
once more the marvellous light Of those
eyes-witching, cruel, unholy.
She came to me, and / saw that she
smiled a smile neither Of malice nor of de-
precation. Simply the imperial smile of q
proud but gracious woman. The spell was
strong still. But l thought Of her relentless
hate, saw the CLEAN OF the murderer's
knife, and felt steelei and safeguarded
against any wiles or treachery.
did not speak, but looked at her coldly,
questisningly.
You are surprised to see met she said
II am surprised that you can come to me
like fhis." answered-s.that you can come
calmly smiling to one whose blood might
have been on your soul
act Anvc DvNo tHa C0f
Il do not tolerate opposition, even from
those love-"
"And you would do worse than kill those
YOU love- I said with anger and scorn.
s.You wou horribly injure the helpless and
innocent to strike at those you love. God
save me from love such as yours
She turned pale, and bent her head mo-
ment When she looked at me again the
soft light had not returned to her eyes,
though she still smiled.
You have not dealt kindly with me-"
she said in subdued voice.
As she spoke she drew step nearer to
me. With any other woman that step
would have been the prelude to an impas-
stoned outburst: the sudden motion of the
arms concealed beneath her long cloak
would have heralded one Of those terrible
appeals where pride goes down before de-
spair, and despair is graced with more than
all the majesty OF pride. With the Basilisk
it was not so. The sudden action contra.
dicted the sad softness Ut the voice, and
looked for the CLEAN Of q concealed dag
ger, or the flash OF q hidden revolver. She
checked her impulse, however, whatever it
might have been, and went on in her low
melodious voice:
ut was an unhappy day for me when
saw you first. 1t was an unhappy day Tor
you when you saw me first. 1t was long
ago. You loved me then without knowing
| why. That love-a boys tempestuous folly
csS H1,avS 60 foiJ
| that our positions were reversed. Had you
| remained in darkness y might have been
| the means Of changing all my life But You
| saw-too much, and You loved anotherw
did she not need love mores'
"What has that TO do with mea You hats
me for pursuing my end in my own way.
You should respect me rather. You made
your choice. do not think it was wise
one.n
why bring up the past again, Miss Beau.
| foys" said. 1T is not long past, but it II
dead, and well that it is dead. 1t was q
/ crime"
ut is over for you, but it is not over fos
/ me-. she said. I'VE shall not meet again
But came to ask favour Of you after
/ alln
/ was touched-vho could foil to be!-by
the humility of this glorious criminal. and
promised to fulfil her request il could.
.Yes'S
81 should like to see Mary before you CO.,
felt chill of dread as she asked this
II do not think that is possible. Mary has
gone through so much, the sight of yor
might have an injurious effect upon her."
Ispoke firmly, but as kind as could.
'sDo not be afraid" she said with LITTLE
scorn; 1t is not quite selfish desire.
would make some amends to Mary for thu
past, and there are some things in relation
to her property which it would be to her nd
vantage-and to yours she added gravcly
THAT she should learn.'
.sCan you not tell met" asked.
"And yet you refuse my simple request
Do not be unreasonable. ] will tell Mari
herself, or no one.''
I'm my presenccan
s'certainly. 1t must be in your pres
enco"
It would save a lot OF possible trouble
we could get some light voluntarily throw
upon the state of Mary's property, and re
flected that there was really no reason TO
refusing this last request. 1rang, and sen
q message asking Mary to come to US.
Miss Beaufoy remained standing. a tai
dark figure, unrelieved even by the white
ness OF her hands, for she kept them fOlde
beneath her cloak. The clear twilight ha
given place to night, and the glow Of the fir
gave only partial and battling light. Th
influence Of the mysterious figure oppresse
me, and ! lit the candles, disclosing th
splendid eyes and the pale perfect face NOR
clearly. We spoke no further word.
s'Soon the door opened, and like fires
spring air Mary Fortescue brought the a
mosphere of innocence and love into tn
darkling room.
She shrunk rather from her kinswomar
! but overcome the instinct and advanced I
her, trembling little, hut bravely eyein
her in the strength Of her recovered ire,
dom.
MARY" began Miss Beaufoy," | hav
come to make matters more equal betwee
u.s.
ut doesn't NATTER said Mary; ''nothin
', matters now: The past is past, and the #
ture is all bright"
The Basilisk smiled . very threatnin
smile.
: Il have come to make some amends" 81
said, and then and there she entered into
! statement, clear and concise, OF some d
tails of Mary's position and roperty.
The information would be most usefu
and l was at loss to account for her gel
, orosity. Perhaps it was unfair to seek
motive. A generous impulse was not TO
. eign to such nature as hers, especial
when she could serve no purpose to her uW
! advantage by keeping the knowledge
herself.
4 "And now suppose you mean to MARI
Q and live happy ever after!o she sad.
' 81 trust So" ! answered; "as soon as CO
/ set my own affairs in order"
!. A glance of white, furious anger shot fro
! the Basilisk at her cousin, but it passed in
moment.
/. And now, my dear Mary" she sal
team do anything more for your
= mo, nothing" said Mary, who had g
o over her terror, and was as cold and haug
t ty as ever Giulia Beaufoy had been.
"DO you not even wish for some revenge
Q sneered the Basilisk.
"Revenge! l do not think of it. wi
!, harm to none Of you. All wish is never
see you again"
= The Basilisk had drawn close to her
It Very well" she said in low, choke
voice, every well.
4 You shall have your wish-you sh,
r never see us again."
o A quick motion OF the hidden hand, t
:. CLEAN of o snow white arm With q cry
!, horror ! rushed forward and Sc zed the U
u raised hand by the wrist. A splash
liquid fire upon my hand, an awful cry, al
Giulia Beaufoy was writhing in ago
ID upon the floor. The vitriol, which she b
designed for Mary, had fallen upon b.
to self. Blasted by her own awful device.
, beauty was marred in its prime, and, by
Al s..lr